Lineup

SUPER BOWL PREVIEW

38 ROGER GOODELL

After reveling in his league's success in Dallas, the NFL commissioner will face his greatest test of skill and character

By Peter King

48 BEN ROETHLISBERGER

A humbled Steelers QB could win his third Super Bowl ring, but winning back the fans remains a work in progress

By Damon Hack

• The remaking of Charles Woodson

52 BIG-GAME STRATEGY

Whichever defense does the better job of stopping the quarterback from making plays on the run will come out on top

By Peter King

• Five matchups to watch

56 | COLLEGE BASKETBALL

ISAIAH THOMAS

The Huskies' guard—with an assist from former NBA star Isiah Thomas—has become the driving force for Pac-10 power Washington

By Pablo S. Torre

60 | BASEBALL

BRIAN WILSON

San Francisco's postseason hero knows he might seem a little out there. But behind his frighteningly black beard, Wilson is a deep thinker—and one of the game's best closers

By L. Jon Wertheim

BLAKE GRIFFIN'S POSTER BOYS

The high-flying Clipper is making his team relevant and becoming a star

By Chris Ballard

page 64

Departments

4 Leading Off

12 Letters

16 Scorecard

College basketball coaches' biggest foe

24 Just My Type

Michael Strahan on Big Ben and Rodgers

By Dan Patrick

26 Faces in the Crowd

28 Inside ...

• Tennis

Djokovic dominates

• College Basketball

Kansas kinship

• The NHL

Calgary's duty

• Boxing

A bomb of a bout

74 Point After

A day in the world of Twitter—LOL

By Joe Posnanski

ON THE COVER Photograph by Bob Rosato; Inset: John W. McDonough

Please Recycle This Magazine Remove Inserts or Samples Before Recycling

SIX PHOTOS